Cincom ObjectStudio

FAQs - Commercial Smalltalk Environments

Cincom includes ObjectStudio as part of the Cincom Smalltalk. For customers needing to build applications that cleanly fold into a Microsoft-centric infrastructure, ObjectStudio is an excellent choice. ObjectStudio is a Windows-specific platform that is oriented toward building client applications that need good connectivity to databases.
Based on the powerful Smalltalk language, ObjectStudio provides a robust development environment necessary to create innovative applications that capture complex business models and processes. ObjectStudio is a complete, object-oriented rapid application development suite of tools for designing and assembling customized applications. ObjectStudio promotes a highly productive, interactive development style backed with a powerful architecture and comprehensive toolsets. ObjectStudio provides graphical round-trip object modeling, graphical object persistency tools, and tight platform integration with Windows. Legacy connectivity within a single development environment enables your enterprise to respond faster to market opportunities.
ObjectStudio simplifies the development process by leveraging the power of component-based technology, enabling developers to:

• Model business objects
• Map business objects to data stores
• Manage objects with a team approach
• Develop with a powerful Windows integrated development environment
• Integrate with the powerful VisualWorks cross platform suite, enabling WS* and server connectivity
• Integrate databases and legacy applications

Powerful Object Modeling

The ObjectStudio modeling tool integrates the design of complex business objects generation, presenting a high-level, businesslike interface that delivers user-friendly tools for working with objects. The object-modeling tool supports case analysis, event diagramming, CRC cards and notations, including UML and Coad/Yourdon.

Automated Code Generation

Using ObjectStudio, an application moves from the design stage to completion much faster than with traditional tools. The ObjectStudio modeling tool can modify and maintain applications more quickly and easily because class hierarchies and object relationships can be arranged graphically, without coding. Simply make changes to the model and then let the modeling tool generate the code automatically.

Round-Trip Engineering

Once an application is rolled-out, it is difficult for new users to understand the complex functionality. With ObjectStudio, any changes to the model are automatically reflected in the code. This means that you always have access to a current business model of the application. Using a current visual, and easy-toï¿¿understand model, your business analysts, training and support team, and IT staff can better understand your complex enterprise applications and be productive in less time.

Robust Object Mapping

The ObjectStudio mapping tool provides visual, drag-and-drop tools for linking objects to databases. The Object Relational Mapper uses the resulting object mapping definitions to make application connections to an object database, without requiring any SQL code written into the application. This allows the developer to concentrate on objects without worrying about the details of the database implementation. This is done automatically.

Strong Database and Legacy Applications Integration

ObjectStudio supports the native API of the major industry-standard databases. This means you can use the latest features of your database. With faster performance throughput and less coding, your development team does not have to be familiar with the complicated database API. ObjectStudio automatically integrates into the database for you. This means less training and better application performance over generic gateways like ODBC.
In addition, ObjectStudio is open to many communication standards and its multiple access and interface capabilities make integration easier between new application-developed legacy applications and desktop environments.

Hardware and Software Environments

• Microsoft Windows 98 through XP
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and higher

Supported Standards

• ActiveX and OCX
• TCP/IP
• APPC
• OLE/OLE2
• DLL
• COM/DCOM

Supported Databases

• ODBC
• Microsoft SQL Serve
• Sybase SQL Server
• Oracle
• DB2/2
• Informix
• UniSQL Server
• SUPRA SQL Server
• Adabas 

Unparalleled productivity, the best tools for supporting emergent methodologies like XP, and worldwide support from Cincom.

Roadmap 2008